If your child has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia or another hip condition and has been transported in a baby carrier or sling, you should speak with one of our injury lawyers as soon as possible. Growing research has revealed that certain types of baby carriers are not suitable for infants and may contribute to hip dysplasia and other hip conditions.
The trial lawyers at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs share decades of experience bringing claims against companies who sell unsafe products.
We know how precious and valuable your children are. We are dedicated to fighting for their well-being by holding negligent companies accountable for selling dangerous products to innocent consumers.
A number of baby carriers and slings have been found to violate recommendations of health care professionals regarding infant hip development.
Note: Even though some of these products have been discontinued, this does NOT mean your case is illegitimate. If you have used any of these products or other baby carriers, speak with our firm today to discuss your legal options.
Note: Even if your child has not been diagnosed with a hip condition, but you have used any of these carriers extensively, you should still pursue legal consultation. Hip dysplasia and other issues are sometimes hard to detect and might have affected your child without your knowledge.
If you have transported your child in any of the following carriers, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible:
A parent’s number one concern is the safety and well-being of their young child. But parenthood is an enormous task that involves a lot of work and a lot of decisions.
Unfortunately, countless companies take advantage of this overwhelming time in a parent’s life by selling products with the promise of providing a better life for your child and an easier life for parents.
Mothers and fathers expect manufacturers to sell safe products for their children, especially when the product comes from a well-respected company. However, too often children’s products are defective or pose dangerous risks, which parents only discover after their child has been injured.
If you have used a baby carrier and your child is now experiencing hip problems, you may be able to receive compensation for your child’s pain and suffering, as well as for all medical expenses incurred due to the damage.
Baby carriers that force a child’s legs into a straight or dangling position are unhealthy and potentially dangerous. When being transported in a carrier, a baby’s hips should be spread apart and bent, almost in a squatting position.
“Parents and caregivers are encouraged to choose a baby carrier that allows healthy hip positioning, in addition to other safety considerations. When babies are carried, especially for prolonged periods of time, the hips should be allowed to spread apart with the thighs supported and the hips bent.”
See the images below, published by The National Hip Dysplasia Institute, which demonstrate healthy and unhealthy positions for babies in their carriers. The diagrams on the left portray improper baby positioning, while the diagrams on the right display healthier positions for infants in carriers and slings:
The National Hip Dysplasia Institute has published extensive information about baby carriers and slings. Their conclusions are that some baby carriers force infants into unhealthy hip positions, which can lead to hip dysplasia or other hip conditions. According to the Hip Dysplasia Institute:
“There is evidence that carrying a baby on the mother’s body (or father’s body) is likely to influence hip development during the first six months of life when the baby is carried for many hours each day for purposes of bonding, or infant care.”
After a child is born, his or her joints remain soft and malleable. It takes months for the joints to stretch out naturally and become more firm. For newborn children, the ball of their ball and socket hip joint is loose and the edges are made of soft cartilage. This means that the joint can bend easily.
If a child’s legs are forced to stretch out straight for too much time, it can cause the hips to dislocate.
This dislocation of the hip is rarely painful in infancy. Just like the soft cartilage in our ears, bending that area of the body might not cause pain. However, the effects of hip dysplasia often becomes apparent when the child begins walking. The condition can also lead to painful arthritis in adulthood.
According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, for improper baby carriers (indicated in the diagram on the left): “Thigh NOT supported to the knee joint. The resulting forces on the hip joint may be inappropriate for prolonged use when infants have loose hip joints or hip dysplasia.”
For proper baby positioning (indicated in the diagram on the right): “Thigh is supported to the knee joint. The forces on the hip joint are minimal because the legs are spread, supported, and the hip is in a more stable position.”
Hip dysplasia is a condition where the bones of the hip joint are misaligned, instable, and/or loose. Other common names for the same condition include:
The diagram on the left indicates a normal hip joint, while the diagram on the right indicates a hip joint with dysplasia, where the socket is shallow.
The most common signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia in infants and children include:
If your child has experienced any of these symptoms and has been carried in a baby carrier or sling, you should discuss your situation with our firm. We can help you determine if you should file a claim so we can pursue compensation on your behalf.
Get a hip examination and X-Ray. If any signs of damage or harm are discovered, keep these records.
Every circumstance is unique, so we will need to gather information about your situation before we can predict the outcome of your case. However, our injury firm invites you to speak with us if either of the following apply to you:
Know that even if your child has experienced any of the above issues, it does not mean you are unqualified for a claim against a baby carrier manufacturer. As experienced trial lawyers, we know how to fight for the compensation you deserve if your child has been harmed by an unsafe product.
Just because a product is on the market, it does not mean the product is safe for use. Children’s products are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and must comply with the requirements stated for each type of product. The requirements for baby slings and carriers address certain types of potential dangers, mainly the danger of a baby falling out or being poisoned by the material of the product.
Baby carrier regulations include:
However, there are no regulations for how babies should be positioned in carriers and slings, failing to take into account the negative effects these products can have on a child’s body during their early stages of development.
If your child has experienced any of these symptoms and has been carried in a baby carrier or sling, you should discuss your situation with our firm. We can help you determine if you should file a claim so we can pursue compensation on your behalf.
Even though the government does not legally require proper hip positioning for baby carriers, manufacturers of baby products should still do their part to ensure their products are safe.
Sadly, many companies either sell their products without doing sufficient research or in some cases, despite the research–all in order to make more money, at the expense of your child’s health and safety.
Every parent of a child who has been injured by a baby carrier or sling deserves a lawyer of the highest quality. You should be compensated for your pain and suffering, as well as the many expenses associated with caring for a child with an injury.
At Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, we sincerely believe that we are the right legal representatives for your case. We have recovered over $1 billion for our injured clients and are passionate about bringing justice to innocent consumers.
We have the resources necessary to be successful in your case. Three of our attorneys are board-certified in personal injury law and together, our attorneys share over 100 years of experience standing up for the rights of the injured. We are proud to have won a number of successful cases against manufacturers of dangerous products.
Children are our hope for the future and do not deserve the hardship of a serious injury, simply because a manufacturer put profit over safe design. Call our firm today at (713) 496-0549 to discuss your legal options in a free consultation.
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